After Notman: Montreal Views - A Century Apart
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The book "After Notman / D'apres Notman: Montreal Views - A Century Apart / Regards Sur Montreal - Un Siecle Plus Tard" was published by Firefly Books in cooperation with the McCord Museum of Canadian History, in 2003. This book presents a rephotographic project realized by me in 1999-2001. You may find more details about the project in the Intro for After Notman in the Works section.
The book contains 34 pairs of images, those of William Notman, taken mostly at the end of the 19th century and my rephotographs of the same views, taken about one hundred years later. They are collocated on the neighbouring pages, so the reader may easily compare them and look for the differences and similarities. All the photographs are in 8 x 10 format, sepia-toned.
The preface was written by Jean-Claude Marsan, O.C.. The essay about William Notman was written by Nora Hague, the archivist of Notman Photographic Archives of McCord Museum. The essay "Rephotography Reprised" was written by Martha Langford. There is also a preface written by myself, titled "Traces of Time", as well as the notes on each plate and the technical explanation regarding finding the right vantage point. The book is bilingual. The English translation was done by Howard Scott and the French translation by Marie José Thériault. Reproductions of William Notman's images were prepared by Marylin Aitken from McCord Museum.
"After Notman" was published in Canada and in the United States. It made the "Globe and Mail" bestsellers list for several weeks and received very positive reviews by critics (you can read some of them below). It is out of stock already, but it is still possible to buy it at Amazon.com .
I dedicated this book to the memory of my father, Józef Maciejewski.
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Reviews on "After Notman" book
Publisher's review:
"A beautifully photographed tour through time.
During the last half of the 19th century, photographer William Notman captured stunning images of Montreal(...).
Just before the turn of the 21st century, photographer Andrzej Maciejewski retraced Notman's steps and meticulously recaptured the same views of Montreal. Not satisfied to merely re-photograph the same buildings or streets, Maciejewski methodically determined the month and time of day the originals were taken. As a result, the photographs are accurate right down to the shadows.
The rewards of patience and diligence can be found in After Notman, a stunning collection of images that illustrate the dynamic relationship between the past and the present. The book also features essays by distinguished writers that explain Notman's original images and the changes that have occurred in photography and to Montreal since.
After Notman belongs on the bookshelves of historians and art lovers alike."
Critics reviews:
"When we look at a rephotographic pairing, the second view presents as the perfect repetition of its model. The historic image and the near-present image mirror each other, albeit imperfectly, since conditions have obviously changed. Still, one might consider such a pairing as a form of closure, whereas the opposite is true. The model image — in this case, Notman’s — is opened up by the rephotographic process; we look at it anew. The aims and methods that created the model become part of an expanded narrative that includes “then,” “now” and all the history in between."
Martha Langford (source: essay 'Rephotography Reprised' in 'After Notman: Montreal Views—A Century Apart')
"Maciejewski rises magnificently to the Herculean challenge of exactly reproducing the perspective, light conditions, and seasonal settings of Notman's century-old originals.(...) Anyone interested in history, photography, and the city of Montreal won't want to miss this book."
Ian McGillis 'Montreal Review of Books' (source here )
"The photographs in this book are a pleasure to view."
Bruce Grainger 'Canadian Book Review Annual' (source here)
"Fine addition to the bookshelves of historians, art lovers and anyone with an enduring affection for the city of Montreal."
Alasdair Gillis 'Canadian Camera' (source here)
"A beautiful book that proves you don't have to produce an expensive hardback to offer quality photographic reproductions."
Sarah Stacy 'Photo Editor' Spring 2004 (Issue #10) The Canada Issue (source here)
"Many of the most active Canadian photographers (...) exemplify the most advanced of emerging international trends. Experiences in so-called rephotography, a type of appropriation, were explored by Andrzej Maciejewski in his book 'After Notman'. The photographs taken by William Notman (...) were taken again by photographer Andrzej Maciejewski, using the same lens format, respecting the angle and viewpoint of original from almost a century removed. Most photographs concentrate on Montreal and give striking examples of the urbanization and modernization that have occurred in most North American cities."
Lynn Warren 'Encyclopedia of Twentieth-century Photography'
"This great bilingual book brings a beautiful example of very original artistic trend, called rephotography, appreciated alike by art lovers, photographers and historians. (...)
Nobody before Andrzej Maciejewski achieved such precision in cropping and accuracy in vantage point. (...)
This book will fascinate the historians, the town-planners, the geographers and the photography lovers. I asses that After Notman: Views of Montreal" thanks to the quality of its realization will surely remain the most beautiful photography album this year on our continent."
Yves Laberge, Institut québécois des hautes études internationales, QC 'Revue d'histoire de l'Amérique française, Volume 57, numéro 2, Automne 2003, p. 307-309' (source here © Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 2003) translation from French Anna Rau
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Firefly Books; 1 edition (Aug, 2003)
ISBN-10: 1552977145
ISBN-13: 978-1552977149
